Bio
Jaiden Whitner is an undergraduate intern for the Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union. She is a sophomore at Spelman College, where she is majoring in International Studies with a concentration in International Development and minoring in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies and Spanish. Growing up both abroad and in the United States gave Jaiden an early awareness of global inequality, which deepened when she served as a student teacher for immigrant and refugee children. These experiences expanded her focus from a general interest in foreign policy to a passion for immigration rights and the inclusion of marginalized voices in global decision-making.
At Spelman, Jaiden serves as a Social Justice Associate and a Georgia Women’s Policy Associate, and she holds executive board positions across student organizations ranging from the Afro-Latinidad Cultural Club to the collegiate chapter of Black Professionals in International Affairs. Beyond campus, she serves on the UN Youth Board for Gender Equality, has lobbied on Capitol Hill for the extension of the H-2 visa umbrella, and helps direct and raise funds for the Sudan Humanitarian Foundation. Next semester, Jaiden will study abroad in Brazil, where she will conduct research on the 'myth of racial democracy' and its implications for Afro-descendant women. She is also the founder of Jaide for Justice, a digital platform that curates policy, advocacy, and career opportunities for students through accessible storytelling.
Jaiden’s research centers on the intersections of migration, human rights, and development, with a focus on marginalized populations.